Bring your own pets

This Neo’s more like a trinity.

If the average Pomeranian is 3 to 7 pounds, then it could be said that Jean Kennedy’s dog — at 16 pounds — is almost three times its size.

The Huntington Beach resident jokes, “He’s the world’s biggest Pomeranian dog.” While that can’t be verified, it is certain she loved Neo enough to have his portrait commissioned.

And if you’re curious what a giant Pomeranian looks like, you can see Neo’s portrait in “The Tales of Tinker’s Tails,” a book created by Huntington Beach residents Toreen West and Peggy Howell. West, a painter, and Howell, the writer, feature Neo in their newly released book.

On Sunday, West, Howell and many of the proud pets (accompanied by their owners) were on hand for a book signing at Park Bench Café.

The book is based on the stories of real pets. It began when West was commissioned to do oil portraits of pets.

West, a well-known Huntington artist, is known for her artwork of children and animals. She painted about 60 of the furry friends for the book. Howell wrote the true tales to describe each pet’s unique personality with a moral at the end of the story.

“West did such a wonderful job of capturing the spirit” of Neo, Kennedy said.

The book is about various animals telling real stories to West’s own pet, Tinker Bell, a two-pound Chihuahua.

“Tinker Bell’s only two pounds, but she goes up to every dog and cat no matter their size,” Howell wrote. The Chihuahua is not much more than a furry ball of black and white, with big saucer eyes.

The book aims to teach children how to treat their pets with respect and appreciate fine art, Howell said. Parents can share morals from the pet stories with their kids, too, she said.

Lauri and Mike Mendenhall of Newport Beach were pleased with West’s portrait of their 15-year-plus, gray-and-white bearded collie, Hepburn, who was named after legendary actress Katharine Hepburn.

“She [Hepburn] is in her later years,” Lauri said. “We’re so glad we did it.” West’s oil of Hepburn was “true-to-life” and “just really caught her,” Lauri Mendenhall said.

The book also features Dean Torrence’s two dogs, Dudley and Biscuit. Torrence — best known as part of the rock ‘n’ roll duo Jan and Dean — designed the book’s cover.

Howell and West are working on the next volume of pets and stories. Plans for selling the book include stocking it at veterinarian offices, pet-grooming stores and pet hospitals.

Gallery HB , which is part of the Hyatt Huntington Beach Resort and Spa, organized the event and donated $5,000 of the proceeds from book sales and portraits to the Boys & Girls’ Club of Huntington Valley.